Condensing system



J. P. LIDlAK v Feb. 16, 1932.

CONDENSI-NG SYSTEM Filed Sept. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR JJDJJG'MK. BY a We.

,ATTORNEY Patented Feb. .16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I JOSEPH P. LIDIAK, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA OONDENSING SYSTEM Application filed September 18, 1930. Serial No..482,881.

My invention relates to condensing systems and particularly to condensing systems of t-hecharacter embodying a surface condenser for liquefying gaseous media such as, for example, low-pressure steam, and a pump for circulating cooling water through the tube nest of the surface condenser and it has for an object to provide a system of the character designated which shall be more compact,

0 more eifective and reliable in operation and less costly to manufacture and install than the systems of this character heretofore 7 provided.

a As provided in the past, steam condensing systems such as installed, for example, in

large electric power generating stations or large steamships, embody a condenser of the surface type and a pump for circulating cooling water through the tube nestof the condenser, the condenser and the pump being constructed as separate pieces of apparatus and installed as separate entities in the power station or engine room of the ship. In such arrangements, the pump is connected to the condenser by suitable pipes or conduits. In view of the fact, however, that condensers and pumps of exceptionally large capacity are now being required, attempts are constantly being made to reduce the amount of installation space as well as the number and size of the foundations required.

I have, therefore, conceived the idea of embodying the condenser and the circulating pump in a single structure, the circulating pump to be located within the condenser which it serves. pump of the screw propeller type inasmuch as this type of pump not only operates with a high degree of efliciency and reliability,

but it lends itself especially well to the novel' location which I propose. .In accordance with my invention," I so coordinate the ciring the pump to the condenser are entirely culating pump with the condenser that the latter retains its normal proportions while, at the same time, the requirements for a large and separate foundation for the pump and for numerous pipes and fittings for connectdispensed with.

It is, therefore, a more particular object Preferably, I employ a of my invention to provide a single struc-- 'tural assembly which shall embody both a.

surface condenser and a circulating pump for supplying cooling water to the tube nest of the condenser and, more particularly, to utilize a circulating pump of the screw propeller type in the assembly. 1

My invention has for still another object to provide a condenser and circulating pump aggregate so arranged that the parts of the circulating pump are readily accessible and may be readily removed from the condense during periods of overhaul.

These and other objects are efl'ected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fi 1 is a view, in sectional elevation, of one form of condensing system arranged in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken.

with a side inlet 11 for steam to'be condensed.

Condensate formed in the shell structure is drained through a lower outlet 12. In the present embodiment, 'I show a form of condenser wherein the axis of the shell structure extends in a vertical direction inasmuch as condensmg systems of the character dlsclosed herein are-especially adapted for installa-' tions of this character. However, it is to be understood that my invention is also applicable to condensing systems wherein the axis of the condenser shell extends in a direction other than vertical. It will, therefore, be understood that I do not limit my invention to condensers of the vertical type.

Secured to one end of the shell structure is a tube sheet 13 and secured to the other end of the shell structure is a tube sheet 14. Extending longitudinally between the tube sheets 13 and 14 is a tube nest 15, which tube nest may have. its outer perimeter so formed as to define, with the interior of the shell structure 10, an intervening steam delivery space 16 (Fig. 2) surrounding a substantial portion of the tube nest and freely communicating with the inlet 11. Secured to the tube sheet 14 is a lower water box 17 having a centrally-disposed cooling water inlet connection 18 and a laterally-disposed cooling water outlet connection 19. Extending axially through the water box 17 and connecting with the inlet 18 is a cylindrical partition 21. The partition 21 divides the water box 17 into av central intake or pump chamber 22 and a surrounding outlet or discharge chamber 23, the latter communicating directly with the outlet 19. i

The tube nest- 15 is provided with a longitudinally-extending cavity or core space 24, which core space is preferably of substantial cross-sectional area. Disposed in the core space 24 is a trunk conduit 25 which extends I longitudinally through the shell structure 10 and which connects the pump chamber 22 to a water box 26 secured to the tube sheet 13 at the other end of the condenser.

In the present embodiment, the tube nest is of the single-pass type, that is, the cooling water circulates through the tube nest in a single, longitudinal direction. Hence, the trunk conduit 25 is so formed that its flowarea is several times larger than any of the tubes of the nest in order that it may convey adequate cooling'water for all of the tubes of the nest. Such an arrangement is very desirable in that it provides a type of condenser having an odd number of passes of cooling water through the tube nest and, at

the same time, having the cooling water inlet and outlet connections located at a common end of the condenser. This form of condenser is disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,748,676 issued February 25, 1930 to D. WV. R. Morgan for condenser and assigned to the \Vestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. In this connection, it is noted that, while in the present embodiment, I show a single trunk conduit 25 for conveying water to all of the tubes of the nest, it will be obvious that it is within the purview of my invention to utilize more than one conduit of this character in which case the number of such trunk conduits would be only a small percentage-of the total number of condensing tubes and, consequently, the flow-area of each of such trunk conduits would be substantially equivalent to the total flow-area of a group of condensing tubes.

The trunk conduit 25 may be provided with fins or bafflles 27 wound spirally about its outside diameter so as to augment the -let 32. Suitable intermediate tube sheets 33 are provided within the shell structure for supporting the tube nest 15, all in a manner well understood in the art.

Disposed within the pump chamber 22 is a screw propeller 33 for circulating cooling water through the tube nest 15. Disposed adjacent to the propeller 33, and on the discharge side thereof, is a guide vane structure 34 for removing the twist or swirl from the water discharged by the propeller. The propeller 33 is secured by means of a faired nut 35 to a drive shaft 36 which extends upwardly through the trunk conduit 25 and projects through the upper water box 26. Supported upon the latter is a driving motor 37 which is connected, through the shaft 36, to the propeller 33. A suitable gland or stufling box 38 is provided in the water box 26 for preventing leakage of water outwardly around the drive shaft 36. A tubular protecting casing 40 surrounds the drive shaft 36 between the guide vane structure 34 and the water box 26.

A suitable thrust and steady bearing 39 is embodied in the housing of the motor 37 in order to support the drive shaft 36. The lower end of the drive shaft 36 is retained in proper alignment by a steady bearing 41 provided in the bore of the guide vane structure 34. The latter is provided with an outer sleeve 42 slidably fitting within the bore of the ump chamber 22 and having its interior sur ace so arranged as to form, with the bore of the lower portion of the pump chamber, a flow passage having a convergent portion 43 on the intake side of the propeller and a divergent portion 44 on the .discharge side of the propeller. For a more detailed description of the form of the propeller, the guide vane structure, etc., reference may be 'had to United States Patent 1,596,459 issued August 17, 1926 to H. F. Schmidt for propeller pump and to the applications of H. F. Schmidt Serial No. 277,650 filed May. 14, 1928 and Serial No. 455,307 filed May 24, 1930, all of which are assigned to the lVestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

As will be apparent from the inspection of Fig. 1, the arrangement is such that the propeller 33 may be readily removed from the drive shaft 36 by removing the nut 35 and withdrawing the propeller through the inlet 18. The complete rotating element may also be removed from the condenser by removing the driving motor and withdrawing the shaft 36 through the upper water box 26. If desired, the drive shaft 36, thetubular denser and pump assembly may be supported upon a suitable bracket structure 50 preferably located uponan intermediate portion of the shell structure From the foregoing description, the operation of my invention will be apparent. Upon the motor 37 being energized,-the shaft 36 and the propeller 33 are rotated and the latter serves to circulate-extraneous cooling water, that is, cooling water from some outside source, from the inlet 18 through the pump chamber 22 and trunk conduit 25. to theupper water box 26 wherein it is distributed to the tube. nest 15. The water then circulates through the'tube nest in a single lon-. gitudinal direction after which the heated water enters the discharge portion 23 of the waterbox 17 and is carried away from the condenser through the outlet 19. While, in the present embodiment, I show an arrangement wherein the cooling water is first circulated through the trunk conduit and thence through the tube nest, it will be obvious that, if desired, the order of circulation may be reversed. As stated heretofore, the water passage in the pump casing 22 has a diverging portion 44 so that some of the velocity energy'of the water may be transformed into energy in the form of increased staticpressure in order to overcome the resistance to flow offered by the condenser. The guide vanes 34 serve to remove the twist or swirl from the water discharged by the propeller and thus eliminate eddying, etc.

Steam to be condensed enters the shell structure throiigh the inlet 11 and surrounds the tube nest in the steam delivery space 16. The steam then travels radially inward toward the cylindrical casing 28 and is condensed by contact with'the tube nest. Condensate formed in the tube nest falls toward the lower tube sheet 14 and is drained from the shell structure through the outlet 12. Any gaseous media not condensed in the tube nest enters, through the openings 29, the annular space 31 and travels spirally about the outer surfaces of thetrunk conduit in the direction of the upper water box 26. During its upward movement, some of the gaseous media is condensed and drains downwardly toward the lower tube sheet 14 while the non-condensable gaseous media is finally withdrawn through the outlet 32. g

- From the foregoing description, it will be pparent that I have evolved a form of condensing system which embodies a very eflective type of condenser and a very efiective type of circulatingpump both coordinated in a single, structural entity. By means of such an arrangement, the requirement for pumpin' apparatus separate and apart from the con enser is dispensed with and'a single foundation structure may be utilized to support the entire system. In addition, my arrangement provides a more compact form of system "as it occupies less space in the power plant, while, at the same time, it is less costly to construct. Inaddition, the effectiveness of the system is improved because of the fact that the circulating pump is directly associated with the condenser and is not required to translate the cooling water through extensive connecting pipes and fittings. While, in the present embodiment, I associate a specific form of pump with a specific form of condenser, it is to be understood that my invention is not confined to the use of these specific forms as it contemplates, in its broader aspects, a unitary structure embodying a surface condenser as Well as a airculating pump or pumps for supplying, to the tube nest of the condenser, all of the cooling water required by the latter.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it-will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a condenser including an inlet connection for the admission of extraneous cooling water, an outlet connection for the discharge of heated cooling water away from the condenser and a tube nest connected between the inlet and outlet connections, of a pump carried by the con denser and connected between one of said connections and one end of the entire tube nest for supplying cooling water for the interiors of the tubes of the nest.

2. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest and water boxes disposed at the ends of the tube nest, of pumping means carried 'by one of the water boxes for at the ends of the tube .nest, of pumping means disposed, at least in part, within one of the water boxes for supplying cooling water for the entire tube nest.

4. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest and water boxes disposed at-the ends of the tube nest, of pumping means disposed within one of the water boxes for circulating cooling water 1n :1 smgle, longitudinal direction and at a substantial umform velocity throughout the length of the entire tube nest.

5. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest, of a propeller for circulating cooling water through the tube nest and a guide vane structure for removing the swirl from the water discharged by the propeller, said guide vane structure being disposed within the condenser.

6. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest, of a propeller for circulating cooling water through the tube nest and a guide vane structure for removing the swirl from the water discharged by the propeller, said guide vane structure being carried by the condenser.

7. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest, a passageway for cooling water formed in a condenser and connecting with said tube nest,.said passageway having a diverging portion which increases in flowarea in the direction of circulation of the cooling water, of a propeller for circulating coolin water through the passageway to the tu e nest, said propeller being disposed at the entrant end of the diverging portion of the passageway.

8. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest and a passageway for cooling water formed in the condenser and connecting with the tube nest, said passageway having a converging-diverging portion, of a propeller for circulating cooling water through the passageway and through the tube nest, said propeller being disposed in an intermediate portion of the converging-diverging portion of the passageway.

9. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest and water boxes disposed at each end of the tube nest, one of said water boxes having inlet and outlet connections for cooling water, of pumping means disposed in said last-named water box and arranged to circulate cooling water from the inlet through the entire tube nest at substantially uniform velocity and thence to the outlet.

10. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest. of a pump disposed near one end of the condenser for supplying cooling water for the tube nest, a prime mover for driving the pump disposed near the other end of the condenser, and a drive shaft for connecting the motor to the pump, said drive shaft extending through the condenser.

11. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest and water boxes disposed at each end of the tube nest, of a pump disposed within the condenser near one of the water boxes for supplying cooling water for the tube nest, and a prime mover carried by the other water box for driving the pump.

12. The combination with a condenser having a vertically-extending tube nest and uperand lower water boxes, of a pump disposed near the lower water box for supplying cooling Water for the tube nest, a prime mover superposed upon the upper water box and a drive shaft depending from the prime mover through the condenser to the pump.

13. The combination with a condenser including a shell structure, a tube nest disposed within the shell structure, conduit means extending longitudinally within the shell structure and a water box for connecting one end of the conduit means to one end of the tube nest, of a pump formed in the conduit means for supplying cooling water for the tube nest.

14. The combination with a condenser including a tube nest, a conduit extending longitudinally through the tube nest and a water box for connecting one end of the conduit to one end of the tube nest, of a propeller disposed within the other end of the conduit for supplying cooling water for the tube nest.

15. The combination with a condenser including a shell structure, a tubenest extending longitudinally Within the shell structure, first and second water boxes disposed at opposite ends of the tube nest, cooling water inlet and outlet connections provided in the first water box, and a trunk conduit extending through the shell structure and connecting one of the Water connections in the first water box to the second water box, of a pump disposed in alignment with said trunk conduit for supplying cooling water for the tube nest.

16. The combination with a condenser embodying a vertically extending tube nest, upper and lower tube sheets disposed at the ends of the tube nest, of a cooling water supply chamber disposed beneath and adjacent to the lower tube sheet, and a propeller pump 'disposed in said supply chamber for supplying cooling water for the tube nest.

17. The combination with a condenser embodying a vertically-extending tube nest having entrant and discharge end portions for cooling water, a cooling water chamber disposed beneath the tube nest and partition means dividing said chamber into an inlet compartment and an outlet compartment communicating, respectively, with the entrant and discharge portions of the tube nest,

of a propeller pump disposed in-the inlet compartment for circulating cooling water through the tube nest, said propeller pump having its axis disposed in substantially a vertical position.

18. In a condensing system, the combination of a shell structure, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, water boxes having cooling water inlet and outlet connections disposed at the ends of the shell structure, partition means in one of the water boxes and forming a pump chamber communicating with one of the cooling water connections and with the tube nest, a propeller disposed in the pump chamher for circulating cooling wa er through the tube nest, and a guide vane structure disposed infthe pumpchamber on the discharge side of the propeller.

19. In a condensing system, the combination of a shell structure, a tube nest extending longitudinally through the shell structure, first and second Water boxes disposed at the ends of the shell structure, partition means forming a pump chamber in the first water box, a trunk conduit extending through the shell structure and connecting the pump chamber with the second water box, a propeller disposed in the pump chamber for circulating cooling water through the tube nest, a prime mover supported upon the second water box, a drive shaft extending through the trunk conduit and connecting the motor with the propeller, and a guide vane structure disposed on the discharge side of thepropeller.

20. In a condensing system, the combination of a condenser having a tube nest and a chamber for cooling water connectin with the interiors of the tubes of the nest, o a propeller disposed in the condenser and near said water chamber for supplying cooling water from said chamber to the entire tube nest.

21. In a condensing system, the combination of a condenser having a tube nest and an inlet connection for supplying cooling water to the tube nest, of a propeller disposed in the condenser near the inlet connection for circulating-cooling water through the tube nest, and means for supporting the propeller within the condenser and providing for removal thereof through the .inlet.

22. In a condensing system, the lcombination with a condenser including ashellstructure and atube nest disposed within the shell structure, of a propeller disposed in the condenser for supplying cooling fluid for the tube nest, a drive shaft extending into the condenser and connecting with the propeller,

and means for supporting the drive shaft and the propeller in the condenser and providing for removal thereof as a single assembly, from the condenser.

23. In a condensing system, the combination with a condenser including a shell structure and a tube nest disposed within the shell structure, of a propeller disposed in the condenser for supplying cooling fluid for the tube nest, a drive shaft extending into the condenser and connecting withthe propeller, a guide vane structure assembled upon the drive shaft adjacent to the propeller, and means for supporting the drive shaft, the propeller and the guide vane structure in the condenser and providing for removal thereof, as a single assembly, from the condenser.

24; In a condensing system, the combination with a condenser including a shell structure, first and second water boxes disposed, respectively, at the ends of the shell structure and a tube nest extending through the shell structure between the water boxes, of a propeller disposed-in the first water box for supplying cooling fluid to the tubenest, a driving motor supported upon the second Water'b'ox, a drive shaft extending through the condenser from the driving motor to the propeller, and bearing means carried by each of the water boxes for supporting the drive shaft. 1

25. In a condensing system, the combination'Wit-h a condenser including a shell structure, first and second water {boxes disposed, respectively, at the ends of the shell structure and a tube nest extending through the shell structure .between the Water boxes, of

a propeller disposedin the first water box for supplying cooling fiuid to the tube nest, a. driving motor supported from the second Water box, a drive shaft extending through the condenser fromthe driving motor to the propeller, thrust and steadybearing means for the drive shaft carried by the second Water box and steady bearing means for the drive shaft carried by the firstwater box.

26. In a condensing system, the combination With'a condenser including a shell structure, first and second Water boxes disposed, respectively, at the ends of the shell structure and a tube nest extending through the shell structure between the water boxes, of a propeller disposed in the first water box for supplying cooling fluid to the tube nest, a. driving motor supported from the second water box, a drive. shaft extending throu h the condenser from the driving motor to t e propeller, and means including the second waterbox for supporting the drive shaft and the propeller in the condenser and providing for removal thereof from the condenser.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of September,

JOSEPH P. LIDIAK. 

